Protective cover for a wind-blown instrument

ABSTRACT

A protective cover for a horn of a wind-blown instrument captures condensate and moisture, preventing visible drips, warms the horns/bells by using a heating element to resolve pitch problems due to cold environments, reduces the transmission of vibration from the instrument to microphones, and protects the horn or bell against dents, scratches and nicks while outside of the case. The cover for a horn or bell of a wind-blown instrument includes a hollow body having an interior side, a closed end, an open end, a fastener mechanism running from the closed end to the open end, and a stretchable panel connected to the interior side of the hollow body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/325,101 filed Apr. 16, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to moisture trap devices for musical instruments, and more particularly to a cover for the horn of a wind-blown instrument that captures condensate and moisture to prevent visible drips.

On wind-blown instruments, saliva and condensate builds within the body of the instrument. The condensate then travels down the body of the instrument and drips out, which is unacceptable while performing in front of a live audience. The prior art shows the use of swabs to absorb the condensate during storage and/or for cleaning purposes. Unfortunately, the swabs cannot be use during a live performance.

Cold environments, such as cold weather or air conditioning, represent another problem to wind-blown instruments. The cold environment causes the temperature of a wind-blown instrument's horns/bells to drop, leading to problems with the pitch and intonation. Furthermore, instrument key-mechanism noise vibrations are transmitted and amplified through clip-on or on-bell microphones used by wind-blown instrument players, which causes undue noise and recording problems during live recordings or performances. And finally, routine handling of the instrument by novice and intermediate wind-blown horn players makes the instrument prone to bell damage and excessive finish erosion.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device that protects the horn/bell of a wind-blown instrument from condensation and damage even during the use of the instrument.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a cover for a horn or bell of a wind-blown instrument includes a hollow body having an interior side, a closed end, an open end, a fastener mechanism running from the closed end to the open end, and a stretchable panel connected to the interior side of the hollow body.

In another aspect of the present invention, a cover for a horn or bell of a wind-blown instrument includes a hollow body having an interior side, a closed end, an open end, a fastener mechanism running from the closed end to the open end, and a stretchable panel connected to the interior side of the hollow body, and at least one pocket attached to the interior side of the hollow body.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective front view of a cover for a horn of a wind-blown instrument according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention showing the cover in working position;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the cover of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of the cover taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective front view of a cover for a horn of a wind-blown instrument according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention showing the cover in working position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a cover for a horn of a wind-blown instrument to capture condensate and moisture, preventing visible drips, to warm the horns/bells by providing an insulation layer to resolve pitch problems due to cold environments, and to a cover that warms the horns/bells by providing a surface to attach a small heating element to resolve pitch problems due to cold environments. The cover also reduces the transmission of key-action noise and or vibration from the instrument to microphones that are attached to the bell, protects the bell and rim of instruments against dents, scratches and nicks while outside of the case.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a cover 10 for a horn (not shown) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The cover 10 may include a hollow body 14 having a closed end 18, an open end 16, a fastener mechanism 22 running from the closed end 18 to the open end 16, and a stretchable panel 24 connected to the interior of the hollow body 14.

The hollow body 14 may tightly fit around the horn or bell (not shown) of the wind-blown instrument 12. In some embodiments, the hollow body 14 may be designed to tightly fit around only the rim of the horn or bell (not shown) of the wind-blown instrument 12. The wind-blown instrument 12 may be a saxophone, a clarinet, trumpet, baritone, trombone, bassoon, or any brass or wood-wind instrument where a horn opening exists at a greater diameter than the bell body.

The hollow body 14 may include walls that taper from the closed end 18 towards the open end 16. The hollow body 14 may be made of a soft material. In some embodiments, the hollow body 14 may be made of fabric, leather, cloth, rubber, vinyl, foam, recycled soft plastics, or nylon. The hollow body 14 may have a shape that matches a shape of the horn/bell of the wind-blown instrument 12. The size of the hollow body 14 may depend on the size of the horn/bell (not shown) of the wind-blown instrument 12.

The open end 16 may be adapted to slide over the horn/bell of the wind-blown instrument 12 until the closed end 18 reaches the rim of the horn/bell (not shown) of the wind-blown instrument 12. The open end 16 may sit near the keys, valves or tubes of the wind-blown instrument 12.

The closed end 18 may sit over the rim (not shown) of the horn/bell (not shown) of the wind-blown instrument 12. The closed end 18 may absorb the condensate without obstructing the function of the horn/bell (not shown). The closed end 18 may not modify the pitch or frequency of sound produced by the wind-blown instrument 12.

The size of the open end 16 and the closed end 18 may depend on the size of the horn/bell of the wind-blown instrument 12.

The stretchable panel 24 may be an extra piece of material that may allow the cover 10 to stretch for receiving the horn/bell (not shown) of the wind-blown instrument 12. The stretchable panel 24 may be a piece of material, straps, or strings. The stretchable panel 24 may allow the stretching of the hollow body 12 and open end 16 during the introduction of the horn/bell (not shown). The stretchable panel 24 may be made of an elastic material.

The fastener mechanism 22 may allow opening and closing the cover 10 in order to facilitate the introduction of the horn/bell (not shown). The fastener mechanism 22 may include a zipper, a hook and loop fastener, a shoelace and loop system, clips, hook and look fastener, or buttons. The fastener mechanism 22 may be attached to the hollow body 14 along one side of the stretchable panel 24.

At least one pocket 20 may be placed on the hollow body 14. Each pocket 20 may hold a small heating element (not shown) to protect the horn/bell (not shown) from cold environments. The small heating element (not shown) may be chemically or battery activated. The pocket 20 may be permanent or removable attached to the hollow body 14 or the stretchable panel 24.

A handle (not shown) may be attached to the hollow body 14 to facilitate the handling of the cover 10.

The cover 10 may reduce vibration noise on the horn/bell (not shown) of the wind-blown instrument 12 by adding a vibration absorption layer between the microphone clip-on apparatus (not shown) and the wind-blown instrument 12.

The user may open the fastening mechanism 22 to expose the stretchable panel 24, then the user may slide the open end 16 of the hollow body 14 over the horn/bell (not shown) of the wind-blown instrument 12 until the closed end 18 reaches the rim (not shown) of the horn/bell (not shown). The user may close the fastening mechanism 22; thus, the cover horn 10 may tightly fit around the horn or bell (not shown) of the wind-blown instrument 12.

The cover 10 may be made by ordinary sewing, wood-working, injection molding, or casting.

FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the present invention showing a cover 26 being used with a second wind-blown instrument 28.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A cover for a horn or bell of a wind-blown instrument, comprising: a hollow body having an interior side, a closed end, an open end, a fastener mechanism running from the closed end to the open end, and a stretchable panel connected to the interior side of the hollow body.
 2. The cover for the horn or bell according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body includes walls that taper from the closed end towards the open end.
 3. The cover for the horn or bell according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body is made of fabric, leather, cloth, vinyl, foam, soft plastic, or nylon.
 4. The cover for the horn or bell according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body has a shape that matches a shape of the horn or bell of the wind-blown instrument.
 5. The cover for the horn or bell according to claim 1, wherein the stretchable panel is made of an elastic material.
 6. The cover for the horn or bell according to claim 1, wherein the fastener mechanism includes a zipper, a hook and loop fastener, a shoelace and loop system, clips, hook and loop fasteners, or buttons.
 7. The cover for the horn or bell according to claim 1, wherein the fastener mechanism is attached to the hollow body along one side of the stretchable panel.
 8. A cover for a horn or bell of a wind-blown instrument, comprising: a hollow body having an interior side, a closed end, an open end, a fastener mechanism running from the closed end to the open end, and a stretchable panel connected to the interior side of the hollow body; at least one pocket attached to the interior side of the hollow body.
 9. The cover for the horn or bell according to claim 8, wherein the hollow body includes walls that taper from the closed end towards the open end.
 10. The cover for the horn or bell according to claim 8, wherein the hollow body is made of fabric, leather, cloth, or nylon. 